“No one should link such military facilities with efforts to militarise the South China Sea”, he said.
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“China is resolute in upholding navigational freedom in the South China Sea that all countries are entitled to under worldwide law”, the spokesman added.
President Barack Obama, eighth right, and other leaders participate in the East Asia Summit family photo in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, Sunday, Nov. 22, 2015.
“We adopted the Kuala Lumpur Declaration on the 10th Anniversary of the EAS which focuses on strengthening the EAS as a leaders-led forum”, he told a press conference in concluding the 27th ASEAN Summit and Related Summits here on Sunday. Terrorism and disputes over the South China Sea are also on the agenda.
Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe may consider a request from the Philippines for large coastguard ships to patrol the disputed South China Sea, after the two allies reached a deal on defence equipment and technology. Park’s remarks over the weekend was an apparent sign that Korea was taking a step closer to supporting Washington, which recently announced $250 million worth of military aid to several countries standing up to China.
“If there is something that should stop, it is the United States should stop playing up the South China Sea issue, stop heightening tensions in the South China Sea”, Chinese foreign ministry spokesman Hong Lei said, according to AFP.
Premier Li said some countries outside the region are conducting a high-profile intervention.
Liu said the construction of facilities, mainly civilian ones, on seven of its islands and reefs in the South China Sea is something China has to do, which aims at improving life and work qualities for personnel on the islands and providing high-quality public services that will also benefit surrounding countries.
Whether China would behave as a responsible power in the simmering standoff over maritime territory, is the question in this context.
China claims virtually the entire South China Sea while the Philippines, Vietnam, Malaysia, Brunei and Taiwan have overlapping claims especially on the Spratly island group confirmed by experts to be rich not only in fisheries but also in mineral resources like petroleum and natural gas.
America has been taken aback by the speed at which China has built the new artificial islands and Washington has responded by sending navy ships and even B-52 bombers into the area in recent weeks.
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“We are hopeful that China would honour its word and respect the rule of law”, Aquino said. And that, he said, includes maintaining peace, security and stability in the South China Sea.
